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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CLEVELAND (AP) – They're probably a few years away being
confused with the other NBA team from Los Angeles. But these
Clippers are quickly making a name for themselves.
Rookie Quentin Richardson sparked Los Angeles in the fourth
quarter and Lamar Odom made a key 3-pointer after the public address
announcer accidentally called them the "Lakers" as the Clippers
got their first win in Gund Arena, 100-94 over the Cleveland
Cavaliers Wednesday night.
Odom scored 23 points as the Clippers snapped a nine-game losing
streak against the Cavs and won in Cleveland for the first time
since Dec. 8, 1992 -- when the Cavs played at Richfield Coliseum.
"When the p.a. guy disrespected us, we got fired up," guard
Jeff McInnis said. "They did it in Detroit, and we won there, too.
We're the Clippers and we want that known."
No, these aren't your daddy's Clippers, who already have
surpassed their win totals from the past three seasons.
Richardson added 19 points, including 12 in the fourth period,
and rookie Darius Miles had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Los
Angeles, which now has consecutive road wins for the first time
since 1997.
"It's been a long time for that," said Odom. "And we took the
Nets to overtime. We're getting there. We have the know-how and
talent to turn this around."
Clarence Weatherspoon had 18 points and Andre Miller had 16 and
eight assists for the Cavs, who shuffled their starting lineup for
the eighth straight game but have lost 11 of 12 and 24 of 30.
Odom went 9-for-16 from the field and added eight assists and
eight rebounds. But it was his 23-footer from the right wing with
the Clippers clinging to a two-point lead that put the Cavs away.
Following a timeout, when the arena's courtside announcer mistakenly
credited it to the Lakers before correcting himself, Odom drained
his 3 with 2:14 remaining to give the Clippers a 92-89 lead.
"That was really big," Odom said. "I had been double-teamed a
lot, but not there. With all the doubles, I figured I had to score
quick. I was really feeling it on that one. I just wanted to knock
it down."
Wesley Person then missed a 3-pointer on Cleveland's next
possession and, after Cavs forward Cedric Henderson's layup rimmed
out, the Clippers made their free throws down the stretch and
Richardson capped the win with a dunk in the closing seconds as the
Clippers won a rare tight game.
Of Los Angeles' 56 games, 33 have been decided by nine points or
less.
"They're a different team than before," said Cavs forward
Chris Gatling. "You can't take nothing from them, they played
well."
Richardson dunked twice and scored eight points during a 10-2
spurt that gave Los Angeles an 85-77 lead with 6:18 remaining, but
the young Clippers began to play like the old Clippers.
Gatling and Weatherspoon each converted three-point plays and
the Cavs closed within 89-87 with 3:10 left when Miller dropped in
a 10-foot jumper. Jim Jackson missed a wide-open jumper that would
have tied it before Odom came out of the timeout to hit his crucial
3.
"Coach said, 'This is our game to win, let's go get it,'"
McInnis said. "Everybody came through and made big shots. Lamar
hit the three. That was really the dagger."
Lamond Murray, the Cavs' second-leading scorer who was benched
for the entire second half Monday night against Chicago after
making a brutal turnover, didn't play. Neither did forward Robert
Traylor, who also has been in coach Randy Wittman's dog house
lately.
Game notes
Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh attended the game along with
members of the James Gang, a '70s rock band from Cleveland which is
reuniting this week for a series of concerts. ... Cavs forward Chucky
Brown, whose second 10-day contract expires Thursday, is expected
to be signed for the remainder of the season. ... Wittman said he
doubted the team would make a move before Thursday's 6 p.m. ET trade
deadline. ... Last season, the only trade made before the deadline
involved Cavs guard Anthony Johnson, who was traded from Atlanta to
Orlando for a second-round draft pick. ... Odom is the only player
in the league leading his team in five offensive categories.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
LA Clippers Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 107
Vancouver 91
LA Clippers 100
Cleveland 94
Detroit 90
New York 85
Phoenix 100
Miami 85
New Jersey 113
Toronto 111
Houston 89
Minnesota 83
LA Lakers 101
San Antonio 99
Seattle 127
Denver 98
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